I thought I could write this post without crying, but it looks like I was wrong. Yesterday we had to say goodbye to our beautiful, fluffy girl. Two weeks ago, when this picture was taken, I would never have imagined that we’d lose her so soon. The past several days, however, saw her losing weight and withdrawing into herself, and when we took her to the emergency vet on Sunday afternoon, the verdict was kidney failure. We brought her home that evening and made the very difficult but also painfully easy decision to let her go. She so clearly wasn’t truly with us anymore. Lydia and I were with her yesterday at our regular vet’s office when it was time, and we sent her on her way with all the hugs and kisses and declarations of love that she deserved, along with a fair share of sorrowful tears. She was the best cat I ever knew. Rest in peace, Smarty.